athena53
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- May 11, 2014
- Messages
- 7,385
On another forum there was a discussion of the hazards of ID theft from carrying SS cards around in your purse or wallet. That's silly, I thought- I memorized mine years ago and so did DH. No need to carry around a card.
Then I remembered that DH's Medicare card (he signed up a couple of months ago when I retired) is emblazoned with his SS number followed by an A. Umm, yeah, that will fool ID thieves. Insurance companies were forced years ago to stop using the SSN as a "policy number" on cards they gave insureds. Why is the gubmint still doing it? And what would happen if DH sliced out the section with his SSN and just told the health-care providers in person on request? Unfortunately he's got a very common name, so just looking up somewhere to see if he's covered would yield a few thousand beneficiaries with the same name.
And how can I get this changed? I have the sinking feeling that writing to my Congress person will just get me on their mailing list asking for campaign contributions.
Then I remembered that DH's Medicare card (he signed up a couple of months ago when I retired) is emblazoned with his SS number followed by an A. Umm, yeah, that will fool ID thieves. Insurance companies were forced years ago to stop using the SSN as a "policy number" on cards they gave insureds. Why is the gubmint still doing it? And what would happen if DH sliced out the section with his SSN and just told the health-care providers in person on request? Unfortunately he's got a very common name, so just looking up somewhere to see if he's covered would yield a few thousand beneficiaries with the same name.
And how can I get this changed? I have the sinking feeling that writing to my Congress person will just get me on their mailing list asking for campaign contributions.